Apparatus for scoring cover glass



Feb. 29, 1944. T Q WE|HS APPARATUS FOR SCORING COVER GLASS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 16, 1941 Feb. 29, 1944. T. G. wElHs APPARATUS FOR SCORING COVER GLASS Filed Dec. 16, 1941 4 Sheets-Shag?. 2 L

Feb. 29, 1944.

T. G. wElHs APPARATUS FOR SCORING COVER GLASS I Filed Dec. 16, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M, .EFH

Feb. 29, 1944. T. GQwEn-ls Y 27,343,035

APPARATUS FOR SCORING COVER GASS 1 A.

Filed Dec. 16, 1941 4 SheetSl-Sheet 4 i 2,5 vw

@jp V 75 l zog Patented Feb. y29, 1944 APPARATUS FOR SCORING @0l/ER GLASS Theodor G. Weihs, now by legal change of name Theodore G. White, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to American Window Glass Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania,

Application December 16, 1941, Serial No. 423,168

lo Claims The present invention relates tothe severance of. glass sheets and more particularly to a novel.

method and apparatus for effecting the scoring operation. The method and apparatus provided by my invention may be used in the scoring of plate glass, sheet glass, and so-called cover glass which is an extremely thin product. While the apparatus disclosed herein was designed primarily for scoring cover glass, it and the principles embodied therein may be employed to advantage in the scoring of ordinary sheet glass as wellv as other types of glass with better results than are obtainable with the previously known scoring machines because a score of uniform depth can be obtained thereby.

Glass-scoring machine of various types have been used heretofore but al1 of those with which I am familiar have been objectionable because they do not provide a score or cut of uniform depth with the result that a substantial amount of breakage is encountered in the subsequent severance of the parts of the scored sheet. This objectionable feature has been particularly prevalent in the severance of the thinner glass sheets such as single-strength sheet glass, lantern-slide glass, microscopic plates, and cover glass. While various types of glass-scoring machines have been used commercially in the severance of singlestrength sheetV glass, an excessive amount of breakage has been experienced. Moreover, so far as I am aware, it has not been possible to' use such scoring machines with any degree of satisfaction in the cutting of the thinner products. This is particularly true in the case of cover glass which has heretofore been cut to desired sizes and shapes by hand.

While the present invention is not limited to the severance of cover glass, for convenience the invention will be described herein as applied thereto.

Cover glass is an extremely thin product ordinarily running from approximately .005l to .007" in thickness. The scoring thereof is quite a delicate operation because of this extreme thinness and the fragility of' the material. The pressure on the scoring tool must be maintained substantially constant" within relatively narrow limits to prevent irregular shattering instead of a smooth break. The maintenance of a substantially constant pressure is rendered quite difficult due to irregularity in the surface condition of the bubble from which the glass is cut. I have found that an appropriate and substantially constant pressure can be effected by the use of a floating scoring tool which is caused by gravity to exert the proper uniform pressure on the glass. Such scoring tool will accurately follow the irregularities in the glass and will produce a cut or score of uniform depth.

In the preferred practice of my invention I support a glass sheet with both surfaces of the area to 4be scored exposed. The scoring tool is applied to one surface under a predetermined constant pressure and a yielding force is applied to the other surface in opposition to the force exerted by the scoring tool. As a result, the scoring tool floats on the surface of the sheet to be scored and accurately follows any irregularities or wavy condition of the surface, making a score or cut of uniform depth in all portions,

Iwhether high or low.

A preferred form of the apparatus comprises a support for sheet glass which may either be in the form of a turn table or a plate sliding on a platen. The scoring-tool mounting is spaced from the edge of the table or platen for engagement with one surface of the projecting edge of a glass sheet thereon. A spring-urged suspension lever carries a roller engaging the other surface I of the sheet opposite the point engaged by the scoring tool, to exert a yielding pressure on the sheet to sustain the force of the tool. In order to insure that the tool exerts a constant pressure at all times, I utilize a' movable tool mounting urged into engagement with the sheet solely by gravity. With this arrangement, I am able tol vary the force exerted by the tool by adjusting counter-weights or replacing removable parts of the mounting. Thus a particular feature and novelty characterizing my invention is the use o1 a scoring tool actuated exclusively by gravity. Other features include a clamping disc cooperating withl the turn table and means for driving theV table when it is desired to score a disc, for example, of cover glass and the provision of means for making a rectilinear as well as an arcuate score on a glass sheet.

The invention will be explained in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the apparatus and a modification. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sheet-glass scoring machine according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a partial central longitudinal section with parts in elevation;

Figure 4 is a side elevation, with parts in section, to enlarged scale showing a portion of the apparatus;

Figure is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 4, one part being removed;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the part shown in Figure 4 which is omitted from Figure 5;

Figure '1 is a partial side elevation showing certain parts illustrated in Figure 4 as well as the turn table and clamping disc;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a modification;

Figure 9 is a plan view thereof with parts in section on the plane of line IX-IX of Figure 8; and

Figure is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane of line X-X of Figure 9.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and, for the present, to Figures 1 through 3, the glassscoring machine of my invention indicated generally at I5 includes a base Il, conveniently a suitable length of channel iron, having a bearing post I2 adjacent one end thereof and spacedy bearing standards i 3 adjacent the other end. Adjacent the standards I3, an opening I4 is formed in the top of the base II, i. e., the web of the channel iron. A central longitudinal slot I5 is also formed in the top of the base. The post I2 is secured to the base by a screw I3 passing through the slot and is adjustable along the base on loosening the screw.

A` support for glass sheets in the form of a disc or table I1 is mounted for rotation on a bearing I8 seated on the upper end of the post I2. The table I1 is secured Vby a central screw to a hub I9 adapted to receive the bearing I8. The table I1 is covered with a layer of sheathing which may be of any suitable material such as cork or the like. A ring 2I of resilient material such as felt extends around the periphery of the table on top of the sheathing layer 23.

. I provide means for holding a glass sheet 22 on the table I1 and means for rotating the table and the sheet to produce a circular score on the latter. The means for holding the sheet on the table comprises a clamping disc or plate 23 which is also provided with a sheathing layer 2Il and an annular ring 2| of felt or the like on the lower surface thereof. The upper surface ofthe disc 23 is provided with a sheathing layer 24V of rubber or other suitable frictionalI material.

` The disc 23 is mounted for rotation and forl movement into and out of cooperation with the table 1I1, on an arm 25. The arm 25 comprises a lpair of spaced bars 23 having hubs 21 adapted toY receive a hinge bolt 23 extending through alined holes in the bearing standards I3. The bars 25 are maintained in properly spaced relation by a spacer sleeve 29 and a spacer block 30 having bolts therethrough. The bolts through the block 3i) pass through alined slots 3| near the outer ends of the bars 23. The block is thus adjustable along the arm 25 for a purpose which will appear shortly. A web plate 32 having an upturned portion 33 extends between the bars 26 and is secured thereto at a position spaced from the outer ends thereof. A bearing post 34 is secured to the plate 3i. by a screw 35. The post has an axial bore 35 extending thereinto from the lower end adapted to receive a bearing stud 31 slidable therein. A compression spring 38 is disposed between the stud 31 and the upper end of the bore rihe limits of movement of the stud 31 in the bore are determined by a central portion 39 of reduced diameter and a screw 4I) threaded into a radial hole in the post 3d.

The stud 31 has an enlarged head I received in a suitable recess in a hub l2 to which the clamping disc 23 is secured by a central screw. A keeper washer 43 has a slot dimensioned to receive the reduced neck of the stud 31 above the head 3I and is welded to the hub 4I after being slipped into position. By this construction, the clamping disc 23 is rotatable on the stud 31 and the latter is reciprocable to a limited extent in the bearing post 34.

It will be apparent that with the parts in the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the clamping plate 23 exerts a pressure on the glass sheet 22 determined by the strength of the spring 38.

The means for driving the table II and plate 23 comprises a friction roll 44 preferablyvprovided with a rubber or similar surface on its periphery adapted to make good frictional contact with the rubber sheathing layer 24 on the plate 23. The roll G4 is carried on a shaft 45 journaled in bearing brackets 45 depending from the block 30. A crank 41 on the shaft 48 permits the latter to be turned conveniently by hand to rotate the table I1 and plate 23. The adjustability of the block 3i! by means of the slots 3l permits the driving roll M to be positioned at various distances from the common axis of the posts I2 and 34 to accommodate supporting tables and clamping plates of various diameters. Y

A supporting roll 43 is journaled on a shaft 49 carried on a post 53. The shaft 49 has a portion 49a. square in section, received in a similarly shaped hole in the post 53 and adjustably secured therein by a headless set-screw 49h. The post 53 is secured to the base II by a screw 5l passing through slot I5. The roll i513 engages the periphery of the table I1 and supports the latter against the downward force exerted thereon by theroll M. It will be apparent that the engagement of the latter with the plate 23 determines the operating position of the arm 25.

In order to limit the pressure exerted by the roll 44 on the plate 23, I provide a counter-weight 52 which is adjustable along a rod 53 extending rearwardly of the arm -25 and seated in a suitable recess in the spacer sleeve 29. The weight 52, when secured in adjusted position by a screw 5t offsets the moment of the arm 25 and its associated parts except for the force which it is desired that the roll lill exert on the plate 23 in order to obtain good driving engagement. Figure 1 illustrates in chain lines, the positions of the arm 25 and counter-weight 52 when the former is upraised to remove the plate 23 from the table i1 for the purpose of applying a sheet to the table or removing it therefrom.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the edge of the glass sheet 22 extends beyond the peripheries of the table I1 and the plate 23, both surfaces of the edge of the sheet being thus exposed. According to the invention, I score thev glass in the exposed region thereof and along a line spaced from the ears in which the sheet. is rigidly supported by the table I1 and plate 23. To this end, I provide a sco-ring-tool mounting or assembly indicated generally at 55 which is best shown in Figures 4 through 6. As there illustrated, the mounting or assembly is carried on a block 55. The block is pivotally supported by pins 51 threaded through lugsr or ears. 58: extending. downwardly from the bars 2G adjacent'the hinge bolt 23.' A sleeveY EQ extending laterally from. the. block 55. adjustab'ly receives a bar til andis providedwith. headless set screwst' I for clamping engagement'. therewith.. A tool holder 'h'as a slot 53m' oneend and i's roachin'ed at the other end toi icrm spaced sides tid adapted" to receive a tool: socket' 55; The bar Bil extendsfinto ther slot G3. and` is securedv thereto` by ai clamping plate 6E. cured to the holder by screws. v'l. is recessed as at 68 to receive a tool block t9. The block has a stud l@ extending into a hole: inthe socket 65 and secured thereinV by aset; screw il. The socket 65 is supported for: angular. adjustment on bearingy screws` '1:21 1A tool post 'lt extends through a suitable hole in; the block. fill, is secured thereinby a-screw it and isrprovidedwithav diamond point 1.5; By'virtue of the stud 'wf and bearing screws 12, the post i3 is capable of universal adjustment. It is also adjustable-vertically in the block 69- on loosening the screw 7.4. It will be understood that the'r adjustment oiA the socket 65. on the screws 'l2 requires that the latteri be backed-01T. When again tightened, they lock the socket in adjusted position.

Posts I6 extend upwardly from the plate da' and holder 62- and have screws ita threaded into the upper ends thereof adapted to'receive a removable weight bar T. bar facilitate the attachment and removal thereof.

Since the entire assembly or toolmounting Stils pivoted on the pins 5l, the pressure-exerted. by the point l5 of the-scoring` tool 13 is determined by the moment oi they weight of the assembly by its eiectiveY lever arm about the pins- 5f?. Thus by providing a. plurality of' weight bars- 'l'l varying slightly in length, I can readily adjust the pres--v sure of thescoring tool. Instead of using removable weight bars, I may employ small counter weights adjustable along the laterallyV projecting portion ofthe weight bar.

Since the scoring-tool mounting 55 is carried on the arm 25, it swingsupwardly with the latter. To maintain the mounting in approximately its normal-position relative to the arm I provide a guard 1B. Thiscomprises a pair of. slotted straps 18a and lill) adjustably securedv together by a-bol-t '19 and suspended from a bar 8i! extending between the spacer sleeve 2.9. and the upturned` portion 33 of the webplate 32. Asshown, the strap 18a is secured between clamping collarsl. on the rod Bil, having set screws engaging the latter. The strap 18h has a hole in the lower portion thereof adapted to receive the screw I4 with.. am-

ple clearance for all normall movement of. the.

scoring tool caused by irregularities in the surface of the glass sheet bengscored. arm Z5 is upraised, however, the screw 14. is engaged by the side of the hole in. the strap '58h and the entire assembly t5y is caused to move with. the arm 25.

Since the overhanginer edge of the sheet 22. en.- gaged by the point of the scoring tool. T3 is at a distance from the supportingtabIe l1 and clamping disc or plate 23, I provide a floating support or suspension adapted to engage the under-sur'- face of the sheet opposite the point engaged by the tool. An arm 82 comprises a of bars 85 secured at one end to hub 84 rotatableon the hinge bolt 23. The other ends of the bars are secured to a block 85. A tail-piece 8.5 extends downwardly from the hub 34' and is normally urged againstv a stop in the form of an. adjustable The clamping.` plate is se- The socket (iii:

Key-hole slots l--in the weight u ll/Then thescrew 81' threadedin. a block 88 extending between the: bearingstand'ards I3; Thev tail-pieceis.` held against the stop bythe tension spring secured' at one'enditothe' extremeiend ofthe tail-piece., The

; other end of the spring is connected by a link 9i) to an adjusting screw 9i. The screw 9| is threadedthrougha web 82 extending transversely between the sides or flanges of the base l l'. The

screw hasa locking thumb nut 93 to hold it in adjusted'position.

Theblock'. S-'Sfis boredto receive a shaft 911 havine'y roller 95 journaled thereon. The shaft is held' in properlyV adjusted position by a headless set screw 95;. The shaft Si also'carries a disc 91 iixed thereon. A stub shaft as' secured to the disc u? carries' an auxiliary roller S9. As previcusly stated, the roller 95 supports the edge of the sheet 22' against the pressure exerted thereon by the scoring tool. The roller 99 supportsv the annular outer-- edge of the sheet after` severance thereof from the main bodyof the sheet.

In using the scoring device of my invention. to cut a circular disc from a glass sheet, the sheet is placed on the table l1 while the arm 25 and associated parts 'are in upraised position. The arm E5 is then moved downward to the position shown in solid lines in Figure l with an index line lili) on the rubber layer 24' of the plate 23 in line with an index pointer lul secured: to the web plate 32 and depending therebelow. As the plate 23 engages the glass sheet, the stud 3l is arrested but further downward movement of the arm 25 is continued by` compression of the'spring 36 until the roll 34 engages the clarnpng` arms. As the arm 25 is lowered, the point of the scoring tool i3) enga-ges the upper surface of the sheet. The supporting roller d5 engagesk the roller surface of the sheet opposite the scoring tool and, after proper adjustment of the screw di', exerts an upward pressure on the edge of the sheet substantially equal. to the downward' pressure of the scoring tool. The apparatus is now in position to make a circular score on the sheet 22. This is accomplished by turning' the hand-le Il? which rotates the roll 44 and drives the plate 3 and disc il through friction. The resulting rotary movement of the' sheet 23 past the point' of the scoring tool forms a circular score about the edge of the sheet.

When a complete revolution of the table l'l' and 'clamping plate 23 has been eiected, as ywill be indicated by the return of the index line lilo into alinement with the pointer lill, the operation of the crank d1 is terminated to prevent multiple scores. When a complete score has been made, the annular outer portion of 4the sheet may easily be severed by slight tapping, if it does not break free during; the course of thescoring.

While I have illustrated the device in connection with the scoring of flat glass, it is particularly useful in the scoring of the bottoms of cover glass capsu made as above described, to facilitate the removal of the thin bottom membraneof thel cap from the portion of the side walls ofthe flask as part of' which it isV blown. In using the device for this purpose, the cap is placed over the table l'l and is thenengarged bytheclamping device 23 after which the scoring is carried out in the manner just explained; The device is particularly suited for this purpose because the mounting of` the scoringT tool causes it to exert a highly uniform pressure on the glass at all times,` despite irregularities or a wavy condition in the surface thereof. At the same time, the supporting roller 95 sustains the actual load of the` scoring tool assembly on the edge of the sheet regardless of slight variations from a true planar condition. The net result is that the scoring tool and supporting roller float with the sheet edge depending upon the level of the latter at various points therearound.

The invention may be adapted for rectilinear scoring by the arrangement illustrated in Figures 3 through 10. As there illustrated, a cross-arm |02 permanently secured to the post l2 supports a table or platen |93 by means of studs |04. An angle bar |95 is carried on a hanger |06 depending from one of thebrackets 45. The angle bar |05 engages the side edge of the platen ||l3 when the arm 25 is lowered to scoring position. A slide plate |81 has an angle bar |138 attached to the side edge thereof which cooperates with the angle bar |55, as shown in Figure 8, to guide the slide plate |81 for rectilinear movement over the platen |03.

The slide plate |81. is provided with an angle E39 eiective to position a sheet such as indicated at Il@ for scoring by the tool 13 on movement of the slide plate. A ller strip I of glass or other material may conveniently be disposed between the angle ||l9 and the glass sheet Il.

In using the modied form of the apparatus shown in Figures 8 through l0, the glass Sheet l l0 is placed on the slide plate m1 with its edge overhanging the edge of the plate, as shown in Figure 9 and in position to be engaged by the point of the scoring tool 73. The slide plate is preferably retracted i. e., moved toward the left beyond the position Which is illustrated in Figure 10, to facilitate the placing of the' sheet. The slide plate is then moved manually toward the scoring tool. The latter is preferably lifted manually until the leading edge of the sheet passes thereover. When the scoring tool assembly has been released, the glass Sheet is scored rectilinearly by continued movement of the slide plate to the position, for example, shown in chain lines in Figure 10. During movement of the slide plate, the roller $5 supports the overhanging edge of the glass sheet beneath the point of the scoring tool in the same manner as in the device of Figures 1 through 7. The scoring tool and roller 95 float as before and accommodate themselves exactly to the edge of the glass sheet, regardless of the irregularity or wavy condition thereof.

The portions of the structure shown in Figures 8 through l0 which are designated by the same numerals as in Figures 1 through '7 are identical with the corresponding parts of the latter.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and explanation that the invention is characterized by numerous advantages over scoring machines and methods known heretofore. In the rst place, the invention is particularly adapted for scoring cover glass and, more especially, the cutting out of the thin membrane formed in the bottom of the bubble on twirling, in the manufacture of cover glass. It is applicable as well, however, to rectilinear scoring for general purposes. The invention is not limited, furthermore, to cover glass but may be employed for the scoring of sheets having a thickness many times that of ordinary cover glass. An important advantage of the invention has alreadyvbeen alluded to, viz., the iioating mounting of the scoring tool and the support for the overhanging free edge of the glass sheet which sustains the pressure of the tool. In addition, the apparatus is simple in construction and operation so that it may be manufactured at relatively low cost and does not require any particular skill in its use.

A further advantage is that the scoring tool, being actuated solely by gravity, exerts a constant pressure on the glass at all times, resulting in a highly uniform scoring thereof.

Although I have illustrated and described but a preferred embodiment and practice of the invention with a modification thereof, it will be recognized that changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts and the practice disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for scoring glass comprising a base, a turn table rotatable thereon, an arm pivoted on said base and overhanging said turn table, a clamping disc on said arm adapted to engage a glass sheet on said turn table, and a scoring tool mounted on said arm and adapted to engage said sheet.

2. Apparatus for scoring glass comprising a base, a turn table rotatable thereon, a scoring tool mounted to engage the overhanging edge of a glass sheet on said table, an arm pivoted on said base and means on said arm supporting said edge against the pressure of said tool.

3. Apparatus for scoring glass comprising a base, a turn table rotatable thereon, an arm pivoted on said base and overhanging said turn table, a clamping disc an said arm adapted to engage a glass sheet on said turn table, and a scoring tool pivoted on said arm and adapted to engage said sheet.

4. Apparatus for scoring glass Comprising a base, a turn table rotatable thereon, an arm pivoted on said base and overhanging said turn table, a clamping disc on said arm adapted to engage a glass sheet on said turn table, a scoring tool mounted to engage said sheet, a counterbalancing arm pivoted on said base and means on said counterbalancing arm engaging said sheet to support it against the pressure of said tool.

5. In an apparatus for scoring glass, a movable table adapted to support a glass sheet, a clamping plate adapted to engage a sheet on said table, means adapted to engage said plate and move it, a movable common support for said plate and said means, and a yieldable mounting for one of said plate and said means on said common support.

6. Apparatus for scoring glass comprising means for supporting a glass sheet with its edge overhanging said means, a movable mounting for a scoring tool urged toward said edge solely by its own weight, a scoring tool in said mounting engaging one side of the sheet near said edge, a roller for exerting on said sheet edge a force substantially equal and opposite that exerted by said tool, and yieldingly urged mounting means in which said roller is journaled.

7. Apparatus for scoring sheet comprising means for supporting a glass sheet in position for scoring with one edge free, a scoring tool spaced from said supporting means and engaging said edge, a movable mount for said tool, a roller supporting the free edge of the sheet adiacent the point of engagement thereof by said tool.v and yieldingly urged mounting means on which said roll er is journaled..

8. Apparatus for scoring glass comprising a turn table adapted to support a glass sheet, a clamping disc adapted to hold a sheet on said turn table, a scoringr tool spaced from the edge of said turn table, and adapted to engage the overhanging edge of a sheet thereon, a roller for that of said tool and friction driving .means engaging said disc.

10. Apparatus for scoring glass comprising a base, a, tablev movable thereon, a. scoring tool mounted to engage the overhanging edge of a glass sheet on said table, a lever pivotally mounted on said base, a roller on said lever supporting said edge against the pressure of said tool, and means yieldingly urging said lever in such di- 10 rection as to move said roller against said edge.

THEODOR G. VVEIHS. 

